Federal hazardous waste regulations (RCRA) have long been referred to as management from "cradle to grave."  In order meet this management principle, the regulations require detailed paper work and reporting from both small and large businesses. 

Failure to maintain the proper paper work can result in significant penalties or even change your regulatory status which will have even greater implications.  Just in 2008, Ohio EPA Division of Hazardous Waste Management (DHWM) has taken 24 formal enforcement actions that included assessment of civil penalties.  Those penalties have ranged from $4,000 to $75,000.  Many of the actions were against small to medium sized businesses.

In addition, hazardous waste enforcement cases will often be reported in the newspaper, even in the small town local newspaper.  If you want to avoid the bad publicity and a costly fine, it pays to review your company’s paper work practices. 

A recent EHS blog post provided a good example of the dangers of missing paperwork. 

But in the absence of any documentation that showed the facility never generated more than 2200 lbs of waste in a calendar month, the inspector assumed incorrectly that the facility generated all the wastes that were shipped out in August of 2001 in that month. [shipped out more than 2200 lbs in the month] The reality was that the wastes in the two shipments made in August had been accumulated over the past several months.

The fact the company did not maintain good records resulted in the inspector citing them for being a Large Quantity Generator (LQG) even though in reality the company was a Small Quantity Generator (SQG).  Without the proper records, the inspector’s conclusion becomes difficult to refute.

Ohio EPA has identified the most frequently cited RCRA violations in Ohio.  Reviewing the following list of frequent  categories of violations is a good place to start in determining if your company is property managing hazardous waste. 

  • Waste Determination- The regulations require all waste to be evaluated.  This is often an area overlooked by businesses. Failing to evaluate just one barrel of waste can result in a citation. Ohio EPA developed a handy fact sheet that is worth reviewing to get yourself familiar with these requirements.
  • Annual Reports-  All LQG must submit a report by March 1st for the preceding year.  Review your files to makes sure you have submitted annual reports. 
  • Container Management- Must inspect your hazardous waste storage areas at least once a week and maintain a log documenting those inspections.  Ohio EPA has provided a hazardous waste storage inspection log sheet that can be used to maintain your records.
  • Emergency Equipment Inspections- SQG and LQG must maintain a log of inspections showing all emergency equipment (fire suppression, spill containment, alarms) were inspected as recommended by the manufacturer or supplier of the equipment.  Ohio EPA also has a emergency equipment inspection log sheet you can use to maintain these required records.
  • Used Oil Storage-  All containers use to store used oil must be properly labeled with a sign that says "used oil."  Using terms like "hazardous waste" or "waste oil" is not sufficient.
  • Large Quantity Tank Systems-  All LQG’s that use tanks to store hazardous waste must inspect the tank once "each operating day."  A log of inspections must be maintained. According to an Ohio EPA fact sheet, this means each day the tank is in use.  Even if workers are not on-site seven days a week.

(photo from flickr: Ashe-Villian)